Strange Winter Olympic sports from Games past

Prior to the 1990s, host countries for the Winter and Summer Olympics often showcased “demonstration sports” as part of the activities at the Games. These sports weren’t medal events, but rather a chance to showcase niche sports that were often popular regionally. Some of these demo sports went on to become official events. Many did not. Here are a few of the weirder demonstration sports that have featured in past Winter Olympics.

Winter Olympic sports we no longer play: Speed skiing

Prior to the 1990s, host countries for the Winter and Summer Olympics often showcased “demonstration sports” as part of the activities at the Games. These sports weren’t medal events, but rather a chance to showcase niche sports that were often popular regionally. Some of these demo sports went on to become official events. Many did not. Here are a few of the weirder demonstration sports that have featured in past Winter Olympics.(Getty)

Winter Olympic sports we no longer play: Skijoring

Skijoring is a racing event in which skiers are towed across the ice and snow while hanging on to the reins of a horse. It appeared as a demonstration sport at the 1928 Winter Games in St. Moritz, Switzerland. (AP)

Winter Olympic sports we no longer play: Skijoring

Skijoring can also be done while being towed by dogs. (Getty)

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Winter Olympic sports we no longer play: Skijoring

Or reindeer. (AP)

Winter Olympic sports we no longer play: Ski ballet

A demo event at the ’88 Games in Calgary, Canada and the ’92 Games in Albertville, France, ski ballet is best described as figure skating on skis. The event featured jumps, spins and even pole-assisted flips. Like skijoring, it never became an offcial event. (Getty)

Weird Winter Olympic: Ski ballet

Third-placed Lane Spina, right, takes a picture of winner Fabrice Becker of France, center, and second-placed Norway’s Rune Kristiansen after they received awards for a demonstration of men’s freestyle ballet skiing at the ’92 Winter Olympics in Tignes, France. (AP)

Winter Olympic sports we no longer play: Speed skiing

Bombing down the side of a mountain at speeds in excess of 140 miles per hour, what could go wrong? A lot in fact. Speed skiing was a demonstration event at the 1992 Games in Albertville. Tragically, it was at those Games that Swiss speed skiier Nicholas Bochatay died during a practice run. (Getty)

Winter Olympic sports we no longer play: Speed skiing

Speed skiiers wear dense foam fairings on their lower legs and special aerodynamic helmets. While the sport is not unlike the type of X-Games-style events we’ve seen in recent Winter Games, there are no plans to make it an official event any time soon. (Getty)